Members

James Chan

Counsel

Island School
LLB, University of Liverpool
LLM, Queen Mary University of London
BPTC, BPP University of London
PCLL, City University of Hong Kong

Qualifications & Awards

ADR-ODR International Accredited Civil/Commercial Mediator — 2020
1st Runner-up, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition — City University of Hong Kong | 2022-23

Practice Profile

James joined Chambers after serving pupillage with Paul C.L. Leung, Kelvin Liu, Edward Tang and Yang-Wahn Hew. He is a member of Lincoln's Inn and was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2023. Shortly later, he joined the Bar in Hong Kong in 2024. James holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Liverpool and furthered his legal education with a Master of Laws (LLM) from Queen Mary University of London. He completed the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at BPP University of London before returning to Hong Kong to finalize his studies with the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) at City University of Hong Kong. James is an accredited Civil/Commercial Mediator awarded by ADR-ODR, which is recognized in the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) in the UK, and the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI). Throughout his studies, James volunteered with Pro Bono Hong Kong as well as volunteering at Croydon and Tower Hamlets Law Centre in the UK. He is committed to continuing his pro bono work in the future. James has also represented City University of Hong Kong in the prestigious 2022-23 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, achieving 1st runner-up. During limited practice, James appeared on behalf of the 1st Defendant at the substantive hearing of the Plaintiffs' injunction application in Lam Mui as the lawful administratrix of the estate of Wong Shing, deceased and another v Frontrich Investments Ltd and others [2024] HKCFI 2295 (as co-counsel to Edward Tang) where he successfully resisted the Plaintiffs' applications for an injunction order and for retrospective leave for a carry-on order. He was also instructed to draft various written submissions. James is fluent in English and business proficient in Cantonese. James is developing a mixed practice and accepts instructions in all areas of work.

Professional Appointments & Memberships

Member of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn — 2022
Member of the Bar Association's Practice Area Committee on Sports Law — 2025 – present

Personal

Outside of his legal practice, James is an active athlete, competing semi-professionally in both Football and Futsal. He currently competes in the Hong Kong Football Association Divisions.

Selected Cases

Commercial

HCA 1178/2024 Advised and drafted the statement of claim for the Plaintiff over a breach of contract for the supply of cold rolled coils valued at USD$2,873,385
DCCJ 4769/2024 Advised and drafted the statement of claim for the Plaintiff for a breach of two loan agreements
Advisory Work Advised the Plaintiff for a detinue claim against a Watch company, asserting ownership of a Rolex wristwatch withheld following a fraudulent transaction

Company

HCA 1759/2024 Appeared on behalf of the Plaintiff for CMC involving disputes over the management and ownership of the company, including potential share buyouts, asset distribution, and the possibility of voluntary winding up
HCMP 829/2026 Represented the Plaintiff for Interpleader Relief and Out of Service Application.
Advisory Work Advised on the enforceability of the charged-over-shares agreement and assessed the potential for a legal claim against a former executive director of the company
Advisory Work Advised on behalf of the Plaintiff to set aside the substituted service application

Civil Fraud / Asset Recovery

[2026] 2 HKLRD 221 Acted for the plaintiff and obtained Norwich Pharmacal disclosure in related proceedings (sole advocate)

Criminal

DCCC 780/2024 Represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to employ a scheme with intent to defraud or deceive in transactions involving securities in a 35 day trial (co-counsel with Edward H.N. Tang)
KCCC 64/2025 Represented the Defendant for an application of high court bail for a charge of Trafficking in a Dangerous Drug (sole advocate)
KCCC 1451/2025 Represented the Defendant charged with common assault resulting in an O.N.E bindover (co-counsel with Tony C.H. Chan)
WKCC 1964/2025 Represented D6 for a charge of Fraud and resulting in CSO (sole advocate)
TMCC 1486/2025 Represented the Defendant charged with Dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence (sole advocate)
TMCC 900053/2025 Represented the Defendant for a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (sole advocate)
TMCC 900076/2025 Represented Defendant charged with indecent assault in a 2 day trial (led by Cheng Huan S.C, co-counsel with Dick Wong)
TMCC 1330/2026 Represented Defendant charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm (sole advocate)

Family

Advisory Work Advised and drafted the Petition for Divorce for the Petitioner against the Respondent for Unreasonable Behaviour

Insolvency

HCB 6449/2025 and HCB 6450/2025 Represented the Defendant in Bankruptcy proceedings
HCCW 676/2024 and HCCW 355/2025 Represent the Plaintiff in the Bankruptcy proceedings
HCCW 18/2025 Represented a supporting creditor in Insolvency Proceedings for a substitution of petitioner application (sole advocate)

Probate & Trust

Lam Mui v Frontrich Investments Ltd [2024] HKCFI 2295 Appeared on behalf of the 1st Defendant at the substantive hearing of the Plaintiffs' injunction application (as co-counsel to Edward Tang), where he successfully resisted the Plaintiffs' applications for an injunction order and for retrospective leave for a carry-on order; also instructed to draft various written submissions
Advisory Work Advised the Plaintiff on the procedural steps for submitting a probate application in a case where the spouse of the deceased is missing and conventional proof of death is unavailable, in accordance with Rule 52 of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules